Chapter 15
The next four weeks were the calmest I’d had in months.
The media circus died down.
The protesters went home.
Life began to feel normal again.
Chloe went back to school.
She was nervous at first.
But the kids at school were kind.
The boy who’d fought with her even apologized.
Jake’s dad had been fired from the news station after it came out that he’d been taking bribes from the Holloways.
Chloe started art classes after school.
She was good.
Really good.
She painted pictures of our new house.
Of me and Lila.
Of sunsets and flowers and all the beautiful things she was finally allowed to see.
Lila got a promotion at the café.
She was saving up to get her own place.
But she told us she wasn’t in any hurry.
She liked living with us.
She liked being part of a family.
I threw myself into my work.
The hospital was thriving.
The board had given me a raise and a vote of confidence.
Dr. Whitmore had been stripped of his medical license.
Mercy Heights had never been stronger.
And then there was the adoption.
Mara had been working on it.
The family court had reviewed all the evidence.
They’d seen Grant’s blackmail of Lila.
They’d seen his setup.
They’d seen that the money he’d given her had nothing to do with me.
The adoption was declared legal and valid.
I was Chloe’s mother.
Forever.
Officially.
Legally.
Permanently.
We cried when we got the papers.
All three of us.
Sentencing day arrived.
We went back to the courthouse.
This time, there were no cameras.
No protesters.
Just us.
Just the truth.
Grant was led in.
He looked terrible.
He’d lost weight.
His hair was a mess.
His expensive suit was gone, replaced by a jail jumpsuit.
He looked like a broken man.
Voss was gone too.
He’d been disbarred and was facing criminal charges himself.
Grant had a new attorney.
A public defender.
He looked just as tired as Grant.
Judge Albright presided one last time.
“Grant Holloway,” he said. “You have been found guilty of heinous crimes against your own child. You abused her. You planned to kill her for profit. You tried to frame an innocent woman. You tried to buy and blackmail witnesses. You have shown no remorse. No regret. No decency.”
He leaned forward.
“Chloe Holloway is a brave, remarkable young woman. She survived your abuse. She stood up to you. She told the truth. And because of her, you will never hurt another child again.”
He picked up his pen.
“I sentence you to the maximum term allowed by law. Twenty-five years to life in state prison. You will be eligible for parole after twenty-five years. But let me be clear—given the nature of your crimes, the lack of remorse, and the danger you pose to society, I will personally write to the parole board every year to make sure you stay exactly where you belong. Behind bars.”
He banged his gavel.
“Court is adjourned.”
Grant was led away.
He didn’t look at me this time.
He didn’t look at anyone.
He just stared at the floor.
He was gone.
Forever.
We walked out of the courthouse.
The sun was shining.
Chloe took my hand in one of hers.
She took Lila’s hand in the other.
“Can we get ice cream?” she asked.
I laughed through my tears.
“Of course we can.”
We went to our favorite ice cream shop.
Chloe got mint chocolate chip.
Lila got strawberry.
I got vanilla.
We sat at a table by the window, watching the world go by.
Normal people.
Living normal lives.
“Is it really over?” Chloe asked after a while.
“Really over,” I said.
“Dad’s never getting out?”
“Not for a very, very long time. And even if he does, he’ll never get near you. Never.”
She nodded.
And then she smiled.
A real smile.
Bright.
Happy.
Free.
“I love you, Mom,” she said.
“I love you too, baby.”
She looked at Lila.
“I love you too, Lila.”
Tears ran down Lila’s face.
“I love you too, Chloe. More than anything.”
We sat there for a long time.
Eating ice cream.
Talking.
Laughing.
Just a family.
Finally.
But even as I laughed, even as I held my daughter’s hand, a small part of me couldn’t help but wonder.
Richard Holloway was still out there.
He was facing criminal charges, yes.
But he was still rich.
Still powerful.
Still angry.
And he still had nothing left to lose.
I pushed the thought away.
Not today.
Today was for celebrating.
Today was for Chloe.
Today was for our new beginning.
But I should have known.
May you like
The Holloways don’t go down that easily.
And Richard Holloway still had one last move to make.
